[RWebb]

James - does TX have any sort of database on contractors? Oregon does & my 1st filter is to see:

1. how long have they been in biz?

2. do they have any complaints against them?

beyond that - word of mouth from people who are somewhat critical; and/or ask for a list of customers (you'll only get happy ones of course)

re moisture problems:
find an engineer in your area & buy them lunch - maybe someone from college?
dunno if they'd be a structural eng. for slab issues or not; here we have basements yet lots of water -- people dig trenches around the house and pour in gravel for a drainage path + spray a sealant outside the stem wall; the the old houses are routinely jacked up for a new fnd.

I do know that in Baton Rouge, the slabs always cracked after about 20 years...